As the college basketball season winds down, the transfer portal is heating up, and the Kentucky Wildcats are actively working to build their roster for the 2025–26 season. Head coach Mark Pope has already made key additions, including Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe, who are set to join incoming freshman Jasper Johnson and others in Lexington.
One name Kentucky was closely monitoring was UAB standout Yaxel Lendeborg. The 6-foot-9 forward had a stellar season and was considered a top transfer target. Lendeborg, who averaged 17.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, was a dominant presence in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), earning the title of AAC Defensive Player of the Year twice and being named MVP of the AAC Tournament. His performance caught the attention of several top programs, including Kentucky and Auburn.
However, Lendeborg has now officially committed to the Michigan Wolverines, according to a report from ESPN. Although this means Kentucky missed out on acquiring the talented big man, it’s a silver lining that he won’t be playing for an SEC rival like Auburn, sparing the Wildcats from potentially facing him multiple times next season.
It’s worth noting that Lendeborg is still exploring his professional options and has entered his name into the NBA Draft. There remains a possibility he won’t return to college basketball if he decides to remain in the draft.
In the meantime, Kentucky continues to explore other options to bolster their frontcourt. One player currently on their radar is Mouhamed Dioubate from Alabama. According to KSR’s Jacob Polacheck, the Wildcats reached out to Dioubate on Friday.
Dioubate, who will be a junior with two years of eligibility remaining, had a solid season with the Crimson Tide. He averaged 7.2 points per game while shooting an impressive 61.7% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range, albeit on low volume. He also contributed 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in just 16 minutes per game. Known for his versatility, Dioubate played both the small and power forward positions, offering valuable depth and flexibility for any team looking to strengthen multiple areas on the court.
With the portal still open, Kentucky’s roster for next season is far from finalized, but the search for impact players is clearly in full swing.
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